Athletic surface water removing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a handle, a frame connectable to the handle, and an absorbent material on a roller, the roller installable in the frame on its longest axis, wherein the absorbent material is capable of absorbing a liquid and discharging the liquid when rotated quickly about its axis. In some embodiments, the absorbent material is lambs wool. The apparatus allows for quick removal of water from puddles on athletic fields by absorbing, and then dispensing said water to less water affected areas of the field. Replaceable and disposable rollers will be part of the apparatus design and functionality.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/653,402 filed Feb. 16, 2005, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present inventive subject matter relates generally to tools for athletic field maintenance, and, more particularly, to an athletic surface water removing apparatus.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Many sports, such as baseball, are played on substantially level surfaces that inevitably include low spots, or depressions in the turf. These low spots collect water, forming puddles, when rain is received, or even during irrigation. Drying these puddles is a common, time-consuming task for field maintenance personnel. Some tools exist to assist in this drying task, but each have shortfalls.

One tool is an absorbent pillow that is placed in a puddle to absorb water. The pillow must then be wrung out before it can be used again. This can be a time consuming process when puddles are large and numerous.

Another tool is a roller for pushing water in the rolling direction. The roller is often made of a closed-cell rubber that forms a seal with the surface being dried to create a moving seal. This type of tool operates as a rolling squeegee to move the water. However, this tool works best on a hard surface with low porosity, such as a concrete or asphalt surfaced tennis court. When such a tool is used on soil, the soil is often unacceptably disrupted. Further, in operation, water is often moved out of one low spot to another. Thus, although one puddle may be removed, another forms.

Yet another roller tool is a large rolling drum having an absorbent material around its circumference. In operation, the drum is pushed or pulled through a puddle and the absorbent material absorbs water from the puddle. The absorbent material, as the drum is moved, rotates around the circumference of the drum to a pressure roller that applies a force to the absorbent material causing water to be discharged inside of the drum. Thus, as water is collected, the weight of the drum increases. Some such drums include six gallon and fourteen gallon tanks. The weight of the drum as it fills makes this tool difficult to maneuver around an athletic field and difficult to drain.

SUMMARY

The present subject matter includes various arrangements of a water removing apparatus for collecting and dispensing water from athletic playing surfaces. These arrangements provide an apparatus that provides minimal disruption to the surface and allows for quick removal of standing water. This apparatus also provides for the relocation of water to another area.

Some embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a handle, a frame connectable to the handle, and an absorbent material on a roller, the roller installable in the frame on its longest axis, wherein the absorbent material is capable of absorbing a liquid and discharging the liquid when rotated quickly about its axis. In some embodiments, the absorbent material is lambs wool. The apparatus allows for quick removal of water from puddles on athletic fields and relocating that water to adjacent and less water-soaked areas of the field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a water removing apparatus.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an example embodiment of a roller portion.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a water removing apparatus being used on a baseball field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the present subject matter may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. And it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that minimal structural and logical changes may be proposed and incorporated without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matter. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to, individually and/or collectively, herein by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept, if more than one is in fact disclosed.

The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the inventive subject matter is defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a water removing apparatus 100. The water removing apparatus 100 includes a roller portion 101 having a roller cover 102 on a roller 103. The roller portion 101 is rotatable about its axis 106 on pins 104 that hold the roller 103 within a frame 108. The frame 108 is connected to a handle 110, which allows the apparatus 100 to be used while the handle is positioned upright.

FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1. The sectional view provides a perspective of a roller portion 101. As provided above, the roller portion 101 includes a roller cover 102 on a roller 103. The roller cover 102 includes an absorbent material 202 attached to a substrate 204. The absorbent material 202 forms a nap on the substrate 204.

The absorbent material 202 is a material capable of absorbing liquid, such as water, and discharging the absorbed liquid when the roller portion 101 is quickly rotated about its axis 106 (as shown in FIG. 1). The absorbent material 202 also discharges the absorbed liquid when the roller portion 101 is rolled on a surface that is less saturated than the absorbent material 202, such as a grassy area of an athletic field. The absorbent material 202 is further capable of discharging absorbed liquid when pressure is applied to the absorbent material 202.

In some embodiments, the absorbent material 202 is lambs wool. In other embodiments, the absorbent material 202 is a synthetic material, such as a synthetic sponge or polyester nap. The length of the nap, in some embodiments, is ⅜ of an inch. In other embodiments, the nap is one inch to two inches long, or virtually any other length where the absorbent material substantially retains water when removed from a puddle, and can centrifugally dispense absorbed liquid when rolled quickly in a less saturated area or dispense absorbed liquid when pressure is applied.

The substrate 204 is made from a water resistant material, such as a plastic or other polymer, such as polyvinyl chloride. In some embodiments, the substrate is made from a natural fiber, such as a cellulosic fiber, and includes a water resistant or waterproof coating.

The roller 103, in some embodiments, is rigid and provides support for the roller cover 102 when pressure is applied during use. The rigidity of the roller 103 prevents the roller cover 102 from collapsing under the pressure. In some embodiments, the roller 103 is of a length allowing for multiple roller covers 102 to be installed on the roller 103.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, the roller 103 has an external diameter 206 less than an internal diameter 208 of the roller cover 102. This difference in diameter allows the roller cover 102 to be placed on the roller 103. The diameter of the roller 103, in some embodiments, is three inches. In this same embodiment, the diameter of the roller cover 102 is greater than three inches, but small enough to friction fit against the roller 103 to prevent slippage during use. However, these specific diameters are not critical to practicing the present subject matter. The relationship between the two diameters, providing a friction fit between the roller 103 and the roller cover 102 should be maintained.

FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2B is an alternate embodiment of the roller portion 101. In this embodiment, the absorbent material 202 is attached directly to the roller 103. Thus, the roller cover 102 and roller 103 are merged into an integrated roller portion 101.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an example embodiment of a roller portion 101. The roller portion 101 includes a roller cover 102 that installs by sliding over and on to the roller 103. The roller 103 includes ends 302, each end being capable of receiving a pin 104 (as shown in FIG. 1) to allow the roller 103 to rotate about its axis 106 (shown in FIG. 1). In another embodiment (not shown), the ends 302 include a pin that protrudes from the ends that secures the roller 103 in the frame 108 (shown in FIG. 1).

The width 304 of the roller cover 102 in some embodiments is nine inches. In other embodiments, the roller cover 102 is twelve inches, twenty-four inches, thirty-six inches, or virtually any other length. In some embodiments, the width of the roller 103, not including the ends 302, is nine inches. In other embodiments, the width of the roller, not including the ends 302, is twelve inches, twenty-four inches, thirty-six inches, or virtually any other length. The roller 103 is capable of receiving one or more roller covers 103, the sum of the roller cover 102 widths being less than or equal to the width of the roller 103.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of a water removing apparatus 100 being used on a baseball field. The baseball field includes a puddle 402, a grassy outfield 404, and a grassy foul-territory area 406. The water of puddle 402 can be removed by the water removing apparatus 100 by rolling the roller portion 101 through the puddle 402. The roller cover 102 of the roller portion 101 absorbs primarily water as it is rolled through the puddle 102, minimally disturbing infield soil. Once the roller cover 102 has absorbed all the water it is capable of holding, the water removing apparatus 100 is then taken to a discharge area, such as a less-saturated grassy outfield 404 or a grassy foul-territory area 406 of the baseball field. The roller portion 101 is then placed in contact with the surface of the outfield 404, pushed quickly, and through the centrifugal force of the spinning roller portion 101, the absorbed water is dispensed from the roller cover 102 into discharge area of the field. This process is repeated until the water from the puddle 402 is substantially removed and relocated to the area of the field.

It is emphasized that the Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b) requiring an Abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, some features are grouped together in a single embodiment to streamline the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments of the invention require more features than are expressly recited in each claim.

It will be readily understood to those skilled in the art that various other changes in the details, material, and arrangements of the parts and method stages which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this inventive subject matter may be made without departing from the principles and scope of the inventive subject matter as expressed in the subjoined claims. 

1. An athletic surface water removing apparatus comprising: a handle; a frame connectable to the handle; an absorbent material on a roller, the roller installable in the frame on its longest axis, wherein the absorbent material is capable of absorbing water from a puddle on a soil surface with minimal disruption of the soil, and discharging the liquid when rotated quickly about its axis.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the absorbent material is lambs wool.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lambs wool has a length of three-eights (⅜) of an inch.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller comprises a roller cover installable on a roller, the roller cover including the absorbent material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the roller is replaceable.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of the roller is nine (9) inches.
 7. An athletic playing surface water removal tool comprising: a handle having a first end and a second end; a frame attached to the first end of the handle; one or more rollers attached to the frame, wherein the roller is adapted to receive a roller cover along its longest axis; and wherein: the roller cover includes a nap of absorbent material surrounding an outer surface of the roller, and the absorbent material, when rolled across a puddle on a soil surface of the athletic playing surface, absorbs water from the puddle without picking up soil from the athletic playing surface.
 8. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 7, wherein the absorbent material is a natural material.
 9. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 8, wherein the natural material is lambs wool.
 10. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 7, wherein the nap of absorbent material has a length of three-eights (⅜) of an inch.
 11. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 7, wherein the one or more rollers are made of a water resistant material.
 12. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 11, wherein the water resistant material of the one or more rollers is a polymer.
 13. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 7, wherein the absorbent material, when saturated with water from the puddle, discharges water when the one or more rollers are rotated rapidly about their longest axis.
 14. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 7, wherein the roller cover is replaceable.
 15. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 7, wherein at least one of the one or more rollers has a width of twenty-four (24) inches.
 16. The athletic playing surface water removal tool of claim 7, wherein each of the one or more rollers is of equal length of one another.
 17. A water displacement tool comprising: a roller holder formed of a single material including a handle portion and a roller frame portion, wherein the roller hold is adapted to receive two or more rollers having an absorbent material attached thereto that when rotated rapidly about its longest axis, discharges water absorbed from standing water on a surface.
 18. The water displacement tool of claim 17, wherein the single material is a polymer.
 19. The water displacement tool of claim 17, wherein the absorbent material attached to the two or more rollers is attached to each roller via a friction fit roller cover.
 20. The water displacement tool of claim 17, wherein the two or more rollers are permanently fixed to the roller handle and each roller is adapted to receive a friction fit roller cover. 